Newly opened in Shibuya’s Maruyamacho district, Hi-Fi Disco Bar Chaos marks the highly anticipated third venue following sister bars RECORD BAR analog and MUSIC BAR BOUNCE. Inside, a vivid world inspired by the visual language of 1970s Stanley Kubrick films awaits. But what does “Chaos” actually mean?
We sat down with owner Takahiro Shokaku, who says his goal is simple: “I want people to feel happy here.”
Bringing a Touch of Chaos to Shibuya
Hi-Fi Disco Bar Chaos (hereafter, Chaos) opened in Shibuya’s Maruyamacho district in April 2026 as the third venue from the team behind RECORD BAR analog and MUSIC BAR BOUNCE. Inspired by the progression of a vinyl record from side A to side B, the team began envisioning a “C-side” for their next chapter, which ultimately led them to the name Chaos.
The origin of the name goes back to a formative experience in an apartment where owner Takahiro Shokaku once lived.
“Years ago, I lived in an apartment in front of Ebisu Station where you could hear the chime of the Yamanote Line. At the time, I was managing the club VISION in Shibuya, so friends who were into music and fashion were always coming over. The place was packed with clothes and records, and there were constantly all kinds of people gathering there. Everyone started calling it ‘chaos’ because it felt like this open hangout spot full of energy.
While planning this third venue, those memories suddenly came back to me, and that’s where the name Chaos came from.”
Drawing from the Visual World of 1970s Kubrick Films
Inside, a surreal world of vivid oranges and reds unfolds. With influences drawn from space-age design and mid-century aesthetics, Shokaku explains the interior was “created by drawing inspiration from Stanley Kubrick’s films of the 1970s.”
Among the records displayed across the walls like pieces of art are rare sleeves designed by Andy Warhol, as well as hard-to-find records that defined particular eras of disco culture. This striking space represents the culmination of two years of preparation as Shokaku worked to bring his ideal vision to life ahead of the opening.
“The record sleeves on display and the distinctive chairs are all vintage one-of-a-kind pieces. They’re not things you can decide you want and immediately find, so ever since we first started planning this project two years ago, I’ve been gradually collecting them from vintage clothing shops, antique stores, and flea market apps.”
Choosing Analogue in an Age of AI
Chaos’s musical roots can be traced back to David Mancuso, the visionary behind The Loft, the legendary New York club of the 1970s.
“Mancuso was known as ‘the world’s greatest DJ who didn’t mix.’ At The Loft, the invitation-only party he hosted, he played records without blending tracks together, letting each song play through in full and giving every one the space it deserved. I was drawn to that spirit and wanted to create a space filled with the same uplifting, euphoria as late-1970s New York disco.”
Embedded into the walls as though they were part of the architecture itself are JBL 4350 speakers, an iconic model from the late 1970s. Rather than delivering sharp, aggressive sound, they produce a smooth, enveloping listening experience. Through them flows music spanning generations, from disco and house of the era to contemporary nu-disco.
Two speakers are built into the wall, positioned on either side of the DJ booth.
For turntables, Chaos uses Technics’ SL-1200G alongside a vintage Garrard 301. The mixer is a Bozak CMA-10-2DL, which has been carefully maintained so it remains fully operational today. Originally introduced as the world’s first commercial mixer, Shokaku says that, to his knowledge, no other venue currently uses one.
When asked why he continues to play analogue in an age dominated by digital technology, Shokaku explains:
“These days, we live in an era where AI can mix music automatically. But simply playing through analogue records adds depth and value to the sound. Sometimes the records are scratched and the needle skips, but even those accidents become part of the experience and give it character.”
One Rule : Be Happy
When people think of a record bar, they may picture a serious space where everyone quietly focuses on the music. But what Chaos aims to create is the complete opposite: a space that feels relaxed and free.
“House and disco have the power to make people happy. There’s a lot of heavy news in the world these days, but I want this to be a place where people can come, immerse themselves in music, feel completely uplifted, and leave thinking, ‘Alright, I’ll give it my best again tomorrow.’”
Flash photography is prohibited at many music bars, but at Chaos, it’s totally fine. Conversations are welcome too, as long as voices don’t become excessively loud. Guests are free to stand up with the music, move along to the beat, or even break into dance from time to time.
Cocktails That Capture the Spirit of 1970s Disco
Image 1: Long, tall glasses were commonly seen in New York’s disco scene in the 1970s.
Image 2: The menu was designed to evoke the look of a record.
At Chaos, the attention to detail extends beyond the space and sound to the drinks themselves. From Collins glasses to fruit-forward cocktails that evoke the disco scene of the 1970s, the menu recreates the trends of the era.
Among the offerings are Meron Ball, a cocktail made with MIDORI, the Japanese melon liqueur that once became a sensation at New York’s legendary nightclub Studio 54. Another standout is Larry’s Horn, named after legendary DJ Larry Levan. Music fans familiar with the history of club culture will spot playful references woven throughout the menu.
Where the Spirit of a Legend Lives On
Shokaku’s Recommended Pick: Frankie Knuckles Presents Satoshi Tomiie – Tears
As we wrapped up, we asked Shokaku to choose one record to recommend. Shokaku reached for a record without hesitation. It was Tears, the debut track by Japanese house pioneer Satoshi Tomiie, released in New York in 1989 and regarded as a landmark of the genre.
“Satoshi has been someone who’s supported me for many years and had the greatest influence on me. This track here is one of the defining, signature works of a legend whose music continues to be loved around the world.”
Open the door to Chaos, and you’ll find a surprisingly diverse crowd inside. From people in their twenties who discovered the bar through social media to veterans in their fifties who lived through the original disco era, all kinds of people gather here. Rather than simply looking back on the music culture of the 1970s and ’80s with nostalgia, Chaos reinterprets it through a contemporary lens. It is this balance of reverence and reinvention that truly defines the bar and sets it apart.
Hi-Fi Disco Bar Chaos
Address: 2F NEXUS MARUYAMA, 9-3 Maruyamacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Instagram: @hifi_disco_bar_chaos
